The Irkut MS-21 is a twin-turbofan, narrowbody derivative of the defunct Yakovlev Yak-242 airliner. The MS-21 family comprises the 150-seat MS-21-200, 181-seat MS-21-300 and 212-seat MS-21-400. All three are to be available in both basic and extended-range versions; the -200 is also to be available in a long-range variant. Power will be provided by Pratt & Whitney PW1400G or Aviadvigatel PD-14 engines. First flight is planned for 2015, with a service entry target date of 2017. Primary competition is likely to come from the Boeing 737, Airbus A320 and Comac C919.
Vanessa Hudson has been named senior executive vice president for the Americas for Qantas Airways. She succeeds Wally Mariani, who has retired. Hudson was executive manager for strategy and planning for Qantas Domestic.
This pressurized, single-turboprop-powered, corporate/utility transport aircraft first flew in May 1991, and received Swiss and U.S. certification in 1994. It seats nine in its standard layout. Portugal's OGMA assembles green aircraft and manufactures some components. The current PC-12 production version, the PC-12 NG (Next Generation), is powered by the 1,200-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67P. A total of 1,166 PC-12s in all versions were built through 2012. Production of 875 units is expected during the 2013-22 period.
Mitsubishi formally launched the twin-engine Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) family in March 2008. Initially, two basic models were planned: the 78-passenger MRJ70 and 92-seat MRJ90. The MRJ70 is powered by 15,600-lb.-thrust Pratt & Whitney PW1215G engines, while the MRJ90 is powered by 17,600-lb.-thrust PW1217Gs. Extended- and long-range versions of each basic model are envisioned, while a 100-seater dubbed the MRJ100 is being seriously considered. MRJ first flight is planned for the second quarter of 2015, with service entry slated for 2017.
Viking Air owns the manufacturing rights to a number of out-of-production de Havilland aircraft, including the DHC-6 Twin Otter, an all-metal, non-pressurized, high-wing, twin-engine turboprop utility aircraft. In April 2007, Viking Air launched a program to restart production of the 19-passenger Twin Otter. The updated Viking Air Twin Otter Series 400 incorporates more than 800 changes to the Series 300, and is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34s or optional PT6A-35s.
The Tu-204-100 is a twin-turbofan, short/medium-range, narrowbody commercial transport aircraft powered by a pair of Aviadvigatel PS-90As, while the Tu-204-120 has two Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4 engines. The Tu-214 has a higher maximum takeoff weight (110,750 kg or 243,650 lb.) than the Tu-204-100. It retains the PS-90A powerplants of the -100 but carries additional fuel. The Tu-204's first flight occurred in January 1989 and through 2012, 87 Tu-204s and Tu-214s were produced. Just six Tu-214 aircraft are forecast for production in the 2013-22 period.
This week, Aviation Week publishes two editions, both double issues. The cover at the far left features the first business aircraft to be developed in China—Avic subsidiary Caiga's Primus 150, an all-composite six-seater based on a U.S. kitplane design and powered by single 850-shp General Electric H85 turboprop. The aircraft is set to fly soon, but its market is uncertain as Chinese tastes continue to favor large business jets (page 58). Photo by Bobby Yip for Reuters via Newscom.
Smarting from South Korea's decision to sideline Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle and reopen bidding for a new fighter, the company is now strategizing to capture some—but not all—of a forthcoming buy. Boeing Defense, Space and Security President Dennis Muilenburg says the company is still investing in development of the Silent Eagle, which has conformal fuel tanks, a stealthy weapons bay, fly-by-wire controls and a digital electronic warfare system. Boeing remains in the game for Seoul's yet-to-be-revamped F-X Phase 3 competition.
The MA60 twin-turboprop transport aircraft is a stretched version of the Xi'an Y7-200A, in turn a variation on the Antonov An-24. The 52-60-seater is powered by two 2,750-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127J engines. Initial flight and delivery of the MA60 took place in 2000. A freighter version, the MA60-500, is also marketed. In May 2010, a new variant, the MA600, was awarded certification by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. It features reduced weight, an upgraded cabin, new avionics (the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 suite) and a host of other improvements.
Xian is developing a twin-turboprop regional airliner dubbed the MA700. This aircraft is a clean-sheet design, not an MA60 variant. Features include six-blade propellers, a T-tail and an unswept, high-mounted wing. Plans call for an initial variant seating 76-78 passengers. A stretched 90-seater would follow. MA700 service entry is targeted for 2018. Xian intends to pursue FAA and EASA certification for the MA700. The MA700 could eventually replace the MA60/MA600 in production.
The A340 is a four-engine, intercontinental, widebody commercial transport aircraft. A prototype flew in October 1991, and deliveries began in January 1993. The A340-200 and-300 were certificated by the JAA in December 1992 and FAA in February 1993. Both models are powered by four 31,200-34,000-lb.-thrust CFM56-5C4 turbofan engines. Two newer models, the longer-range A340-500 and stretched A340-600, are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines. Typical seating patterns for the -200, -300, -500 and -600 are 262, 295, 313 and 380 passengers, respectively.
“Introducing ALIS” (AW&ST Sept. 16, p. 45) gave me pause. Here is a $448 million development program with a future value in the billions that will coordinate and manage the logistics and operation of the F-35, the world's most sophisticated and expensive fighter. And yet, those who created and are implementing it believe that the acronym for Autonomic Information Logistics System is ALIS. I hope this is not indicative of additional potential surprises coded into the network.
Currently in flight testing, the A350 is a twin-engine, widebody jetliner intended to compete with Boeing's 777 and 787. The A350 is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines rated in the 75,000-97,000-lb.-thrust range, and will have a cruise speed of around Mach 0.85. Three basic versions are being marketed: the -800, -900 and -1000. Depending on the version, the A350 will seat 270-350 passengers, and will have a range of 8,100-8,500 nm. An ultra-long-range version, the A350-900R, and a freighter, the A350-900F, are also planned.
The An-28 and An-38 are twin-turboprop utility/transport aircraft. First flight of the An-28 occurred in 1969, with temporary Soviet certification following in 1978 and full certification in 1986. A westernized version of the An-28, the PZL Mielec M28, made its first flight in 1993 and received FAA certification in 2004. A stretched An-28 version, the An-38, made its first flight in 1994 and received Russian certification in 1997. The An-28 is powered by two PZL Rzeszow TWD-10B/PZL-10S engines, with the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65B powering the M28.
Five years ago, the U.S. rotorcraft industry was stagnant, fat and happy. It was building the same old helicopters for customers who did not think they needed anything better. Today, the industry is vibrant and developing new designs, but running the same risk of focusing on a single, dominant customer with a shaky record of making and sticking to procurement decisions.
The Scottish government has announced a plan to nationalize Prestwick International Airport near Glasgow. The airport, owned by Infratil, is losing around £2 million ($3.2 million) per year. Infratil has been trying to find a buyer for the facility since March 2012. The Scottish government plans to buy the airport and let a private company run it, in a bid to safeguard jobs in an area that has high unemployment levels.
Marc Welinski has become deputy director of broadcast and broadband for Paris-based Euroconsult. He was director of marketing and commercial strategy at Eutelsat.
The 777 is a twin-engine, widebody jetliner. First flight occurred in June 1994, followed by FAA/JAA certification in April 1995 (Pratt & Whitney-powered version). Deliveries began in June 1995. The 777-200ER seats 301-440 passengers, and is powered by two PW4000, Trent 800 or GE90 turbofans rated 84,000-95,000 lb. thrust each. Two newer versions are the 777-200LR and -300ER. The -200LR, which seats 301 in three classes, is powered by a pair of 110,100-lb.-thrust GE90-110B1 or 115,300-lb.-thrust GE90-115BL turbofans.
The 787 Dreamliner is a family of twin-engine widebody airliners with three versions. The 787-8 carries 210-250 passengers and has a range of 7,650-8,200 nm. The 787-9, lengthened by six meters (20 ft.), carries 250-290 passengers and has a range of 8,000-8,500 nm. The 787-10 is stretched another 5.5 meters beyond the 787-9. All three models are sold with either two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 or General Electric GEnx turbofans.
George Ullrich has become senior vice president-strategy development for Applied Research Associates Inc., Albuquerque, N.M. He has been chief technology officer of the Schafer Corp. and was senior vice president-advanced technology programs at the Science Applications International Corp.
Launched in July 2008, Bombardier's CSeries family comprises two basic models: the CS100, which carries 110 passengers; and the larger CS300 model, which seats 135 in a standard configuration. The aircraft will be powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofans producing up to 23,300 lb. thrust each. With an extra-capacity seating option, the CS300 can carry up to 160 passengers. The CS100's first flight occurred in September. The CS100 will compete with the Embraer 190 and 195, while the CS300 will vie against the Boeing 737 and Airbus A319.
Initially, the new ARJ21 regional jet from Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China was to be available in the ARJ21-700 78-90-seat variant, while later introduction of the 98-105-seat ARJ21-900 is a possibility. Power is provided by two GE CF34-10A turbofans producing 18,500 lb. thrust each. Rollout of the ARJ21-700 occurred in December 2007, followed by first flight in November 2008. Four ARJ21s were built through 2012, and 103 additional examples are forecast for production through 2022. The ARJ21 faces competition from Bombardier and Embraer.
This is Embraer's E-Jets family of twin-engine, 70-132-seat regional jetliners. The 70-80-passenger 170 made its first flight in February 2002, followed by the larger 78-88-seat 175 in June 2003. The 170 and 175 share a common engine in the 14,200-lb.-thrust GE CF34-8E. The 94-114-seat 190 made its initial flight in March 2004, while the 106-122-passenger 195 first flew in December 2004. GE CF34-10E engines, rated at 20,000 lb. thrust each, power these models.
